Several hundred taste buds develop and mature in the trench walls of the rat's vallate papilla during the first 3 months after birth. The objective of this investigation of taste bud development was to determine: (i) whether the vallate papilla has local growth zones where new taste buds form, (ii) ...

Maturation of neurological performance in moderately to severely growth-retarded newborn infants (SGA) can be accelerated by 3 to 4 weeks or more when compared to the development of appropriately grown infants (AGA) of the same gestation. This is particularly the case in multiple pregnancies or pregnancies characterized by maternal hypertension. ...

The ultrastructure of nucleoli was examined in developing rat spermatocytes and spermatids, with the help of serial sections. In addition, the radioautographic reaction of nucleoli as examined in rats sacrificed 1 hr after intratesticular injection of 3H(5')-uridine and taken as an index of the rate of synthesis of ribosomal RNA ...

Developmental changes in tympanic membrane to stapedial footplate areal ratios were investigated in kittens from birth through the twentieth postnatal day. Measurements from 45 kittens (85 temporal bones) were obtained from the pars tensa region of the tympanic membrane and the stapedial footplate region bounded by the annular ligament using ...

The inhibin content and aromatase inhibitor activity (AIA) of 72 follicular fluids (FF) obtained from 42 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) were studied as a function of IVF ET outcome. Inhibin levels were determined by bioassay (BA) and RIA; AIA was measured by BA. The ...

The postnatal development of the oscillatory potentials (OPs) of the rat electroretinogram (ERG) was studied. The appearance and/or completion of the development of the individual oscillatory peaks differed from that of the a- and b-waves as well as from each other. The OPs appeared postnatally one to two days later ...

Unilateral muscular thickening (ULT) was observed in the wall of the fetal veins on the placental surface beneath the amnion. The maternal facing wall of the fetal veins was thin, and protruded into the amniotic sac. The ratio of the thickness of the maternal facing to the fetal facing wall ...

Evaluation of amniotic phospholipids, which are a parameter of fetal lung maturation, is important in the management of premature infants. The method available for measuring the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio, which appears to provide an index to fetal lung maturity, is laborious, involving determinations of phospholipids, and so is unsuitable for ...

We describe a method for determining the number and size distribution of lamellar bodies and compare the results prospectively with other tests for fetal lung maturity: lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio (L/S), phosphatidylglycerol, and fluorescence polarization. The technique uses an electronic particle counter calibrated for a size range of 1.7-7.3 fL. The number ...

The transepithelial potential difference (PD) value represents an integral of ion fluxes across the epithelium, and relates to the regulation of airway fluid. We studied six healthy two day old husky puppies for their tracheal mucus rheology and bioelectric properties, since this data in newborns are still unknown. PD (-mV, ...

In this study a comparison of the myelination rate in humans in normal and pathologic conditions was made. The progress of myelination was examined on slides stained by the Klüver-Barrera method and evaluated as to four degrees. The prenatal myelination in the brain stem in a group of newborns who ...

The purpose of the present investigation has been to analyse prenatal cranial base development in the coronal plane and to combine the findings with results in former reports on cranial base maturation estimated in the horizontal and sagittal planes. The study is based upon cranial bases of 26 human fetuses ...

Acceleration of fetal maturation with intra-amniotic administration of thyroxine was employed in eight patients in whom preterm delivery was necessary because of malignant disease of the mother. Thyroxine (200 mcg to 500 mcg) was given at weekly intervals starting at the 27th to 32nd week of gestation until the L-S ...

The major surfactant protein with a molecular weight of 35 kd and also saturated phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol were analyzed in specimens of amniotic fluid; 68 were from cases of maternal diabetes, 41 from preeclampsia or maternal hypertension, 26 from premature rupture of the fetal membranes, and 45 from normal pregnancies. ...

Suppression of the soleus (Sol) H-reflex recruitment curve by Achilles tendon vibration and the ratio of maximum Sol H-reflex (Hmax) to maximum M-response (H/M ratio) have been studied by means of computer processing on the basis of peak-to-peak (P-P) and area values in 46 controls and in 16 spastic patients. ...

Amniotic fluid lecithin phosphorus concentration (AF-Lec) was measured in 209 healthy women at 31.7-42.7 weeks gestation. The patients were divided into four groups according to race and fetal sex. No differences in AF-Lec between black and white nor between male and female fetuses were found. The relationship of AF-Lec to ...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in electrocardiographic waveform and the release of catecholamines in the fetal lamb during nonacidemic fetal hypoxia. Chronically instrumented fetal lambs were subjected to reproducible hypoxia by reduction of the maternal placental blood flow. This was achieved by complete obstruction ...

An important prerequisite for the management of high risk pregnancies is the accurate prediction of foetal lung maturity. A number of indices of foetal lung maturity based on the determination of surfactant constituents in the amniotic fluid have been proposed. Amniotic fluid contains phospholipids, including phosphatidylcholine (lecithin), sphingomyelin, phosphatidylinositol and ...

Urogastrone was measured by radioimmunoassay in amniotic fluid obtained from 186 complicated pregnancies at 22 to 40 weeks gestation. Amniocentesis was performed for a variety of indications to obtain information about fetal lung maturity or bilirubin levels before induction of labour or caesarean section in various obstetric conditions. In 114 ...

In conclusion, the suggested management for PROM follows two general principles. The first principle, which is accepted by most, consists of searching for a positive history of PROM, confirming PROM (by speculum examination, pooling, positive Nitrazine testing, and ferning), and obtaining cervical and vaginal cultures (for group B streptococcus/gonococcus and ...

The amniotic fluid lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio from 128 cases of high risk pregnancies were measured by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The L/S ratio was found to be increased in patients with pre-eclampsia, hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), prolonged rupture of membranes (PROM), and twin gestation, but decreased in ...

The subarcuate fossa of the petrosal bone houses the petrosal lobule of the cerebellar paraflocculus. Although the subarcuate fossa can be extensive, little is known about its relative size and distribution in primates. Studies indicate parafloccular involvement with cerebellar areas coordinating vestibular, visual, auditory, and locomotor systems. Hypotheses have proposed ...

Using biotinylated Arachis hypogaea agglutinin (AHA) or peanut lectin (PNA) and an avidin-peroxidase procedure, the various stages of spermatid development were visualised with great clarity; a light haematoxylin counterstain permitted the easy recognition of spermatogenic cells in the same section. This method is particularly useful in the interpretation of poorly ...

A noninvasive method for the assessment of fetal pulmonic maturity via the sonographic characterization of fetal distal femoral and proximal tibial epiphyseal ossification centers was evaluated. The study population included 82 patients in the third trimester of pregnancy, 47 of whom had uncomplicated gestations, while 35 had insulin-dependent diabetes. In ...

A literature review and new data on correlates of newborn auditory brainstem evoked responses (ABRs) are presented. Although there has been documentation of the importance of maturation, pathology, postnatal complications, and sex as determinants of the ABR, few investigators have adopted a multivariate approach, resulting in a confounding of maturation ...

Artificial surfactant (ALEC) composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and unsaturated phosphatidylglycerol in a ratio of 7:3 (w/w) and a dose of 50-100 mg was suspended in 1 ml of cold saline and used at birth as a prophylaxis against the respiratory distress syndrome and its complications in a two centre randomized prospective ...

An analysis was made of samples of amniotic fluid from 82 pregnant women with normal pregnancies, ranging from 29 to 40 weeks of amenorrhoea. Lipid extraction was quantitative and individual phospholipids were isolated by two-dimensional chromatography. The lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio (L/S) increased significantly (t = 2.17; p less than 0.05) between ...

A system of staging pregnancy that is directly related to normal development is proposed to replace the currently used 'trimester' system. If accepted, this concept of staging could be applied across species without the likelihood of a grossly incorrect assessment of the stage of development. In contrast to this, the ...

Four hundred and fifty skeletons were examined, and age changes in the bony vertebral end-plates were grouped into six categories. The predominant patterns of each phase from infancy to senescence are presented. The formation of ridges and sulci that form peripherally are similar to those appearing in other epiphyses and ...

From 70 infants born after gestation periods of 28-41 weeks HbF and HbA2 were determined in the cord blood; HbA was calculated from the two values. HbF decreased with maturity, HbA and HbA2 increased. The percentage of HbA2 calculated from the sum of HbA + HbA2 (non-fetal Hb) increased from ...

The results are presented of fluorescence polarization as a method for measurement of surfactant production in 159 specimens of amniotic fluid collected from pregnant women with diabetes, hypertension, Rh immunization, premature rupture of membranes (for more than 48 h prior to delivery) and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The predictability of ...

We determined concentrations of disaturated phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) in nearly 2000 amniotic fluid samples obtained either transabdominally or as vaginal pools. Here we report our comparison of these DSPC values with the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratios for amniotic fluid samples obtained from diabetic and nondiabetic pregnancies and also between transabdominally or vaginally ...

The background, history, and physiologic basis for the use of corticosteroids to enhance fetal pulmonic maturation are presented. Clinical data relevant to this topic are discussed, and recommendations for the use of these agents are proposed. Finally, other pharmacologic agents that may become clinically useful for this indication are described.

The major fetal risk associated with elective delivery is unexpected fetal lung immaturity and the development of hyaline membrane disease soon after birth. Prior to elective vaginal or abdominal delivery it has become standard obstetric practice to predict fetal lung maturity by the analysis of amniotic fluid obtained by amniocentesis ...

Amniotic fluid fluorescence polarization was determined in 105 pregnant diabetic women who delivered between 31 and 41 weeks gestation within 48 hours of an amniocentesis. Seventy-seven of these 105 women had lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) determinations. Seven (6.6%) of the 105 neonates suffered from hyaline membrane disease (HMD). ...

In this study, identification of cholinergic nerves in the murine thymic rudiments during ontogenetic development, by immunonocytochemical localization of the enzyme cholin acetyltransferase (ChAT) was carried out. Fetal thymic rudiments from day 13 of gestation to the time of birth, and upto 8th post natal week were examined. Contrary to ...

Thirteen cochleas from human fetuses ranging in age from week 9 to week 22 were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The classical 'base-to-apex' and 'internal-to-external' gradients of maturation were confirmed by surface observations of the developing organ of Corti. The tectorial membrane begins to be secreted around week 9, i.e. ...

We used a modified lamellar body phospholipid (LB-PL) assay to evaluate the effect of sample processing and to evaluate the clinical efficacy of LB-PL determinations. Within-run and between-run CVs for the modified LB-PL assay respectively ranged from 2.9 to 6.7% and from 3.4 to 14.3%. Freezing and storage at -20 ...

The summating potential (SP) recorded concurrently with transtympanic (TT) and extratympanic (ET) electrocochleography in Menière ears was compared with respect to polarity and amplitude. There was a difference in SP polarity and amplitude between the two methods. The incidence of the increase in the ratio of -SP amplitude to the ...

The Datex Relaxograph is a recently introduced electromyographic monitor of neuromuscular transmission. It has been assessed in patients requiring neuromuscular blockade and the results compared with those obtained simultaneously with a force transducer. There was a good correlation between the two methods of measurement for both twitch height and train-of-four ...

There is no simple and rapid test available to predict the outcome of an early pregnancy complicated by vaginal bleeding. In this prospective study, 15 women with normal pregnancies collected a weekly urine sample between 6 and 13 weeks' gestation. A single random urine sample was obtained from 15 women ...

Although use of the lecithin-sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio has contributed to a reduction in the frequency of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), its accuracy in pregnancies complicated by fetomaternal disease has been questioned. Disaturated phosphatidylcholine is the major active component of surfactant and has been advocated as being a more specific indicator ...

Data are presented which show that the functional phospholipid/sphingomyelin (FPL/S) ratio is a sensitive and specific prenatal indicator of fetal respiratory status. Phospholipids included in the ratio are acetone precipitable lecithin(L), phosphatidylglycerol(PG), phosphatidylethanolamine(PE), and sphingomyelin(S). These lipids have been shown to contribute to either the lowering of surface tension or ...

A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the obstetric events preceding delivery of infants who developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) at one New York City hospital between January 1970 and July 1973, and January 1980 and July 1983. Elective delivery without adequate documentation of fetal maturity occurred in 7 (11.1%) ...

A new hypothesis is presented concerning the maturation of the human nervous system and the duration of pregnancy. It has been found that many neural functions characteristic of the fetus continue after birth until a major transformation takes place at the end of the second postnatal month. From a comparative ...

Amniotic fluid lecithin-to-sphingomyelin ratios are widely used to predict fetal lung maturity. The inclusion of acetone precipitation in the determination of the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio has been widely accepted as a necessary step for enhancing predictivity. The lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio of 181 amniotic fluid samples was analyzed with and without acetone precipitation. ...

Intestinal development was noted from 27 days gestation. By 50 days gestation the ovine small intestine shows the beginning of villus formation. The lumen becomes patent by 70 days. Proximal regions mature earlier than distal regions. Vacuolation of enterocytes occurs in all regions of the small intestine at some stage ...

While motor milestones--the neurodevelopmental functional end point of the transitioning of the immature and mature primitive reflexes into volitional activity--have been highlighted in predicting future motor function, the primitive reflexes represent the earliest neurodevelopmental markers available for study. By pediatricians becoming familiar with their quantitative and qualitative aspects coupled with ...

The contents of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine phosphorus in amniotic fluid (10,000 X g pellets) were studied as predictors of fetal lung maturity. The presence of phosphatidylglycerol predicted the absence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome with 99% probability. When phosphatidylglycerol was absent, phosphatidylcholine phosphorus was a reliable predictor if measured 3 ...

The effects of bendazac-L-lysine salt (bendazac-lysine) on some biochemical parameters (soluble and insoluble proteins, reduced glutathione, sulphydryl and disulphide groups, water content) in rabbit lens at different times after X-rays (2000 rads) were studied. The mature cataract (swelling and total lens opacity) developed 11-12 weeks after irradiation. In the mature ...